More cuts expected from Pontiac schools despite recent layoffs

PONTIAC -- A new round of cuts are expected to be announced by Pontiac interim school Superintendent Walter Burt as early as Friday, as he responds to state pressure to slash the budget by $15 million before the end of the school year.

The state of Michigan Department of Education continues to withhold the April state aid payment from the district as a penalty for not meeting expected reductions thus far. And a preliminary review of district finances ordered by State school Superintendent Michael Flanagan continues as his staff pores over documents provided by Pontiac schools.

To queries about where the new cuts will be focused, Burt said "the first wave is expected to be additional teachers and principals at the secondary level and some special education teachers." There will also be additional reductions in clerical and secretarial staff, Burt said. But he would not provide any details. Employees will be notified first.

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Dan McCarthy, Michigan Education Association representative to Pontiac teachers, said the bargaining team will likely be briefed on the proposed cuts today (Friday May 11) before bargaining starts

Burt had planned to make the announcement this week. District spokeswoman Erica Donerson said the earliest Burt will release the information is Friday.

The reductions in staff will be in addition to the 95 layoffs announced after spring break, when more than 40 teachers, mostly from elementary levels, left their classes behind shortly before student marking period and parent conferences.

Twenty-three administrators were also given notice they will be out of a job as of the end of the school year. Several secretaries, clerical workers and teacher assistants were also given notice.

Jefferson Whittier Elementary will be closed, the International Technology Academy will move to Pontiac Middle School and Bethune school has already been closed, with alternative education students moved to a wing of Pontiac High School, where they are taking online courses to earn their diploma.

The newest round of cuts will not be the last, Burt said. There will be more in the next school year. One option is closing Odell Nails Administration Building and moving district offices to Whitmer Human Resource Center.

State school Superintendent Michael Flanagan said in a letter that he called for the preliminary review of the district's finances after learning that the deficit was projected to increase to $26 million by the end of this school year instead of being reduced by $15 million. He is also concerned because of the controversial forensic audits that show mismanagement of funds and fraud.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is close to completing its investigation of Pontiac schools forensic audits, John Shoup, supervisor of the FBI Oakland County office. So far one former administrator, Jumanne Sledge, has been indicted for embezzling $236,000 dollars. The Jaguar and a bank account of the former assistant superintendent of operations and human resources were confiscated. His trial is scheduled for July.

The $15 million is the first part of Pontiac schools' total $24.5 million deficit that must be eliminated. By 2014, the district must completely eliminate the entire deficit, plus another $1.5 million in expected cost increases under a plan submitted by the district and approved by the state Department of Education.

Burt, who was recruited from his position on the faculty of Western Michigan University to help the district meet the state's requirement to reduce the deficit and avoid a state emergency financial manager, said early on that the biggest savings would come from contract negotiations and employee concessions.

The district and teacher bargaining teams were at work at the table Thursday, where teachers are being asked to take a 10 percent wage cut and give concessions in health insurance among other things.

McCarty, who is working with the Pontiac Education Association, said time had been set aside this week for three days of negotiations. Friday will be the third day.

"It is tough. We were closer Monday than today," he said. "It's awful. There is no way we can obtain a contract fair to our membership."

McCarthy would give no details about what the sticking items are at the bargaining table.

"We'd like to minimize the economic consequence of the situaiton on our members. We'd also like to get them (administration) to have a plan in place the state would accept and release the state aid for the month," McCarthy said, noting that if the April payment isn't being released, it is doubtful the May payment will be coming.

McCarthy said he doesn't know what cuts Burt may have in mind.

"We don't know much more than anbody else knows. It looks like we will be thoroughly briefed about that tomorrow before bargaining session. I think it will be for the fall. I don't expect more before the school year ends," he said.

However, he added, "whether you are in a deficit or not, you need teachers. They want our help to recruit new students. That is a daunting challenge with teacher layoffs and larger classroom size."

The administration would like to build up enrollment because that would bring in more state aid to cover operations. Enrollment has declined around 600 a year and is expected to be down another 500 next school year.